Electrostatic copying apparatus and auxiliary unit capable of being detachably mounted thereon

Abstract

An electrostatic copying apparatus and an auxiliary unit detachably mounted on the electrostatic copying apparatus to diversify the mode of image formation. The electrostatic copying apparatus includes a paper conveying passage, a paper feed means for feeding paper to the paper conveying passage and a paper feed passage having its downstream end connected to the paper conveying passage, and a copied image is formed on one surface of paper while it is conveyed through the paper conveying passage after being introduced into the conveying passage from the paper feed means or the paper feed passage. The auxiliary unit includes a paper moving passage whose upstream end is to be selectively connected to the downstream end of the paper conveying passage of the copying apparatus and a paper stock means whose upstream end is connected to the downstream end of the paper moving passage and whose downstream end is connected to the upstream end of the paper feed passage of the copying apparatus. The copying paper introduced into the paper conveying passage from the paper feed means in the electrostatic copying apparatus and conveyed through the paper conveying passage is selectively introduced into the paper moving passage of the auxiliary unit and then fed into the paper stock means of the auxiliary unit. Thereafter, the paper is introduced into the paper conveying passage of the copying apparatus from the paper stock means via the paper feed passage of the copying apparatus.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. An auxiliary unit for, and capable of being detachably mounted on, an electrostatic copying apparatus, said electrostatic copying apparatus comprising a copying paper conveying passage, a copying paper feed means for feeding a copying paper to the paper conveying passage and a copying paper feed passage having a downstream end connected to the paper conveying passage, and said electrostatic copying apparatus being adapted to form a copied image on one surface of the copying paper while the paper introduced into the paper conveying passage from the paper feed means or the paper feed passage is conveyed through the paper conveying passage; 
     
     
       said auxiliary unit comprising an inlet portion adapted to be connected to the downstream end of the paper conveying passage, an outlet portion adapted to be connected to the upstream end of the paper feed passage, copying paper stock means located adjacent to the outlet portion, a copying paper moving passage disposed between the inlet portion and the paper stock means, and a copying paper receiving surface located adjacent to the inlet portion; an introduction control member disposed in the inlet portion and adapted to be selectively held at an introduction position at which said introduction control member guides the paper discharged from the downstream end of the paper conveying passage to the paper moving passage and a non-introduction position at which said introduction control member guides the paper to the receiving surface, so that when the introduction control member is held at the introduction position, the paper discharged from the downstream end of the paper conveying passage is introduced into the paper moving passage, then fed into the paper stock means, and thereafter introduced again into the paper conveying passage via the outlet portion and the paper feed passage, and when the introduction control member is held at the non-introduction position, the paper discharged from the downstream end of the paper conveying passage is gathered at the paper receiving surface; said auxiliary unit further comprising a pair of discharge rollers disposed in the downstream end portion of the paper conveying passage and a pair of introduction rollers disposed in the upstream end portion of the paper moving passage, the paper receiving surface being disposed above the paper moving passage, an upper movable guide plate constituting the introduction control member and a lower guide plate cooperating with the upper movable guide plate when the upper movable guide plate is at the introduction position, said upper and lower guide plate being disposed between the pair of discharge rollers and the pair of introduction rollers, so that when the upper movable guide plate is held at the introduction position, the upstream end of the upper movable guide plate is positioned above the nipping site of the pair of discharge rollers and the downstream end of the upper movable guide plate is positioned above the nipping site of the pair of introduction rollers and below the paper receiving surface whereby the paper discharged from the nipping site of the pair of discharge rollers is guided to the nipping site of the pair of introduction rollers through the space between the upper movable guide plate and the lower guide plate, and when the upper movable guide plate is held at the non-introduction position, the upstream end of the upper movable guid plate is positioned below the nipping site for the pair of discharge rollers and the downstream end of the upper movable guide plate is positioned on substantially the same level as, or above, the paper receiving surface whereby the paper discharged from the nipping site of the pair of discharge rollers is guided to the paper receiving surface by the upper surface of the upper movable guide plate. 
     
     
       2. The auxiliary unit of claim 1 wherein the upper movable guide plate is mounted such that it can freely pivot between the introduction position and the non-introduction position about an axis extending substantially perpendicularly to the paper moving direction. 
     
     
       3. The auxiliary unit of claim 1 wherein at least the upstream portion of the lower guide plate is made of a flexible material, and when the upper guide plate is held at the non-introduction position, the upstream portion of the lower guide plate is pressed by the upstream portion of the upper guide plate and bent downwardly. 
     
     
       4. The auxiliary unit of claim 1 wherein a cover plate is disposed adjacent to the inlet portion such that it can move freely between a closed position and an open position,   at least the upstream portion of the paper moving passage is defined below the cover plate when the cover plate is at the closed position, and at least a greater portion of at least the upstream portion of the paper moving passage is opened when the cover plate is held at the open position, and   the paper receiving surface is defined by the upper surface of the cover plate when the cover plate is at the closed position.   
     
     
       5. The auxiliary unit of claim 4 wherein the upper roller in the introduction roller pair is mounted on the under surface of the cover plate. 
     
     
       6. The auxiliary unit of claim 4 wherein a plurality of upper defining plates defining the upper side of the paper moving passage are mounted on the uder surface of the cover plate. 
     
     
       7. An auxiliary unit for, and capable of being detachably mounted on, an electrostaic copying apparatus said electrostatic copying apparatus comprising a copying paper conveying passage, a copying paper feed means for feeding a copying paper to the paper conveying passage and a copying paper feed passage having a downstream end connected to the paper conveying passage, and said electrostatic copying apparatus being adapted to form a copied image on one surface of the copying paper while the paper introduced into the paper conveying passage from the paper feed means or the paper feed passage is conveyed through the paper conveying passage; said auxiliary unit comprising an inlet portion adapted to be connected to the downstream end of the paper conveying passage, an outlet portion adapted to be connected to the upstream end of the paper feed passage, copying paper stock means located adjacent to the outlet portion, a cover plate disposed adjacent to the inlet portion and freely movable between a closed position and an open position, a paper moving passage disposed between the inlet portion and the paper stock means, at least the upstream portion of the paper moving passage being defined below the cover plate when the cover plate is at the closed position, and at least a greater portion of at least the upstream portion of the moving passage being opened when the cover plate is held at the open position, a paper receiving surface defined by the upper surface of the cover plate when the cover plate is at the closed position, a plurality of upper defining plates defining the upperside of the paper moving passage and mounted on the under surface of the cover plate, an introduction control member disposed in the inlet portion, said introduction control member being adapted to be selectively held at an introduction position, at which said introduction control member guides the paper discharged from the downstream end of the paper conveying passage to the paper moving passage, and a non-introduction position, at which said introduction control member guides said paper to the recieving surface, so that when the introduction control member is held at the introduction position, the paper discharged from the downstream end of the paper conveying passage is introduced into the paper moving passage, then fed into the paper stock means, and thereafter introduced again into the paper conveying passage via the outlet portion and the paper feed passage, and when the introduction control member is held at the nonintroduction position, the paper discharged from the downstream end of the paper conveying passage is gathered at the paper receiving surface.   
     
     
       8. The auxiliary unit of claim 7 wherein a pair of introduction rollers are disposed in the upstream end portion of the paper moving passage, and the upper roller of the introduction roller pair is mounted on the under surface of the cover plate. 
     
     
       9. An auxiliary unit for, and capable of bing detachabley mounted on, an electrostatic copying apparatus, said electrostatic copying apparatus comprising a copying paper conveying passage, a copying paper feed means for feeding a copying paper to the paper conveying passage and a copying paper feed passage whose downstream end is connected to the paper conveying passage, and said electrostatic copying apparatus being adapted to form a copied image on one surface of the copying paper while the paper introduced into the paper conveying passage from the paper feed means or the paper feed passage is conveyed through the paper conveying passage; wherein said auxiliary unit comprises an inlet portion adapted to be connected to the downstream end of the paper conveying passage, an outlet portion adapted to be connected to the upstream end of the paper feed passage, a copying paper stock means located adjacent to the outlet portion, a copying paper moving passage disposed between the inlet portion and the paper stock means, and a paper moving means for feeding the paper discharged from the paper conveying passage and introduced into the paper moving passage through the inlet portion into the paper stock means,   the paper moving passage includes a curved reversal passage extending from the inlet portion to the paper stock means and a short-circuit passage connecting the upstream end portion of the curved reversal passage to the paper stock means,   the paper moving means selectively performs a first moving mode by which the paper is turned inside out by passing it through the curved reversal passage and then fed into the paper stock means, and a second moving mode by which the copying paper is introduced into the curved reversal passage and then moved in the reverse direction and fed into the paper stock means from the upstream end portion of the curved reversal passage through the short-circuit passage, and   the paper fed to the paper stock means is again introduced into the paper conveying passage through the outlet portion and the paper feed passage.   
     
     
       10. The auxiliary unit of claim 9 wherein the copying paper is turned inside out by introducing it into the paper conveying passage through the paper feed paassage. 
     
     
       11. The auxiliary unit of claim 9 wherein the paper moving means includes a reverse direction moving means disposed in the upstream portion of the curved reversal passage and being rotatably in a direction to move the paper in said reverse direction, and a pressing means adapted to be selectively held at an operating position at which it cooperates with the reverse direction moving means and a non-operating position at which it is kept apart from the reverse direction moving means, and   when the pressing means is at the non-operating position, the paper does not undergo the reverse direction moving action of the reverse direction moving means, and when the pressing means is held at the operating position, the paper is pressed against the reverse direction moving means by the pressing means and moved in the reverse direction by the cooperative action of the reverse direction moving means and the pressing means.   
     
     
       12. The auxiliary unit of claim 11 wherein the reverse direction moving means is constructed of a roller to be driven. 
     
     
       13. The auxiliary unit of claim 11 wherein the pressing means is constructed of a follower roller mounted rotatably. 
     
     
       14. The auxiliary unit of claim 9 wherein the upstream end of the short-circuit passage is positioned below the downstream end of the inlet portion,   the paper moving means includes a multifunctional conveying means for introducing the paper into the curved reversal passage from its upstream end and introducing the paper into the short-circuit passage from its upstream end, and   the multifunctional conveying means has an upper supporting shaft, an intermediate supporting shaft and a lower supporting shaft disposed in vertically spaced relationship, and an upper conveyor roller, an intermediate conveyor roller and a lower conveyor roller mounted respectively on the upper supporting shaft, intermediate supporting shaft and lower supporting shaft, the intermediate conveyor roller and the upper conveyor roller cooperating with each other to define the upstream end of the curved reversal passage and introduce the paper into the curved reversal passage from its upstream end, and the intermediate conveyor roller and the lower conveyor roller cooperating with each other to define the upstream end of the short-circuit passage and introduce the paper into the short-circuit passage from its upstream end.   
     
     
       15. The auxiliary unit of claim 14, wherein the multifunctional conveying means further includes a plurality of intermediate protrusions which are disposed in the intermediate conveyor roller at circumferentially spaced intervals, project radially beyond the circumferential surface of the intermediate conveyor roller and are rotated together with the intermediate conveyor roller. 
     
     
       16. The auxiliary unit of claim 15 wherein the intermediate protrusions are formed of a flexible material. 
     
     
       17. The auxiliary unit of claim 15 wherein the multifunctional conveying means further includes a plurality of lower protrusions which are disposed in the lower conveyor roller at circumferentially spaced intervals and are rotated together with the lower conveyor roller. 
     
     
       18. The auxiliary unit of claim 17 wherein the lower protrusions are formed of a flexible material. 
     
     
       19. The auxiliary unit of claim 17 wherein the intermediate protrusions and the lower protrusions are disposed alternately in the widthwise direction. 
     
     
       20. An auxiliary unit for, and capable of being detachably mounted on, an electrostatic copying apparatus, said electrostatic copying apparatus comprising a copying paper conveying passage, a copying paper feed means for feeding a copying paper to the paper conveying passage and a copying paper feed passage whose downstream end is connected to the paper conveying passage, and said electrostatic copying apparatus being adapted to form a copied image on one surface of the copying paper while the paper introduced into the paper conveying passage from the paper feed means or the paper feed passage is conveyed through the paper conveying passage; wherein said auxiliary unit comprises an inlet portion adapted to be connected to the downstream end of the paper conveying passage, an outlet portion adapted to be connected to the upstream end of the paper feed passage, a copying paper stock means located adjacent to the outlet portion, a copying paper moving passage disposed between the inlet portion and the paper stock means, and a paper moving means for feeding the paper discharged from the paper conveying passage and introduced into the paper moving passage through the inlet portion into the paper stock means,   the paper moving passage includes a curved reversal passage extending from the inlet portion to the paper stock means and a short-circuit passage connecting the upstream end portion of the curved reversal passage to the paper stock means,   the paper moving means selectively performs a first moving mode by which the paper is turned inside out by passing it through the curved reversal passage, and fed into the paper stock means and a second moving mode by which the copying paper is once introduced into the curved reversal passage and then moved in the reverse direction and fed into the paper stock means from the upstream end portion of the curved reversal passage through the short-circuit passage,   the curved reversal passage has an upstream portion, a curved intermediate portion curved downwardly and a downstream portion extending below the upstream portion, the short-circuit passage extends from the upstream end portion of the curved reversal passage above the downstream end portion of the curved reversal passage, a guide plate along the upper surface of which the copying paper is moved is disposed in the downstream end portion of the curved reversal passage, at least one guide member extending from its one end mounted pivotably in the moving direction of the paper passing through the curved reversal passage and having a free end biased in a direction to abut against the guide plate is mounted above the guide plate, the paper moved in the downstream end portion of the curved reversal passage advances below the guide member, and the paper moved through the short-circuit passage advances above the guide member and   the copying paper fed into the paper stock means is again introduced into the paper conveying passage through the outlet portion and the paper feed passage   
     
     
       21. The auxiliary unit of claim20 wherein the guide member is biased by its own weight in such a direction in which its free end abuts against the guide plate. 
     
     
       22. The auxiliary unit of claim 20 wherein a plurality of such guide members are disposed in widthwise spaced relationship. 
     
     
       23. An auxiliary unit for, and capable of being detachably mounted on, an electrostatic copying apparatus, said electrostatic copying apparatus comprising a copying paper conveying passage, a copying paper feed means for feeding a copying paper to the paper conveying passage and a copying paper feed passage whose downstream end is connected to the paper conveying passage, and said electrostatic copying apparatus being adapted to form a copied image on one surface of the copying paper while the paper introduced into the paper conveying passage from the paper feed means or the paper feed passage is conveyed through the paper conveying passage; wherein said auxiliary unit comprises an inlet portion adapted to be connected to the downstream end of the paper conveying passage, an outlet portion adapted to be connected to the upstream end of the paper feed passage, a copying paper stock means located adjacent to the outlet portion, a copying paper moving passage disposed between the inlet portion and the paper stock means, and a paper moving means for feeding the paper discharged from the paper conveying passage and introduced into the paper moving passage through the inlet portion into the paper stock means,   the paper stock means includes a copying paper supporting plate extending in the moving direction of the copying paper, a paper leading edge restricting plate disposed ahead of the paper supporting plate and projecting upwardly beyond the upper surface of the paper supporting plate, and a carry-in roller mechanism,   the carry-in roller mechanism comprises a carry-in roller biased downwardly and mounted so that it can freely ascend and descend between the lowermost position at which it abuts against the upper surface of the paper supporting plate and the uppermost position spaced a predetermined distance from the upper surface of the paper supporting plate, and an elevating means adapted to be selectively energized to elevate the carry-in roller to the uppermost position,   when the paper is fed into the paper stock means from the paper moving passage, the elevating means is in the deenergized state, and the paper fed into the paper stock means advances into a position below the carry-in roller along the upper surface of the paper supporting plate, then further advances by the delivering action of the carry-in roller and abuts at its leading edge against the paper leading edge restricting plate whereby the advancing of the paper is hampered, and thereafter the elevating means is energized to elevate the carry-in roller to the uppermost position and keep it away from the paper, and   the paper fed into the paper stock means is again introduced into the paper conveying passage through the outlet portion and the paper feed passage.   
     
     
       24. The auxiliary unit of claim 23 wherein the carry-in roller mechanism includes a carry-in roller supporting member disposed above the paper supporting plate, said supporting member extending in the moving direction of the paper from its one end pivotably mounted, and the carry-in roller is mounted pivotably on the free end portion of the supporting member and elevated or lowered by the pivoting movement of the supporting member. 
     
     
       25. The auxiliary unit of claim 24 wherein the carry-in roller is biased elastically downwardly. 
     
     
       26. The auxiliary unit of claim 23 wherein the paper stock means further includes main holding members disposed on both sides of the carry-in roller in the widthwise direction, and each of the main holding members is biased downwardly and mounted such that it can be freely elevated from its lowermost position at which it abuts against the upper surface of the paper supporting plate. 
     
     
       27. The auxiliary unit of claim 26 wherein each of the main holding members extends in the paper moving direction from its one end pivotably mounted above the paper supporting plate and its free end portion abuts against the upper surface of the paper supporting plate, and each holding member is elevated and lowered by its pivotal movement. 
     
     
       28. The auxiliary unit of claim 27 wherein the main holding members are biased downwardly by their own weight. 
     
     
       29. The auxiliary unit of claim 26 wherein the carry-in roller and the main holding members are disposed in the rear portion of the paper stock means, and the paper stock means further includes at least one subsidiary holding member disposed in the front portion of the paper stock means, said subsidiary holding member being biased downwardly and mounted such that it can be freely elevated from its lowermost position at which it abuts against the upper surface of the paper supporting plate. 
     
     
       30. The auxiliary unit of claim 29 wherein the subsidiary holding member extends in the paper moving direction from its one end pivotably mounted above the paper supporting plate and its free end portion abuts against the upper surface of the paper supporting plate, and the subsidiary holding member is elevated or lowered by its pivotal movement. 
     
     
       31. The auxiliary unit of claim 30 wherein the subsidiary holding member is biased downwardly by its own weight. 
     
     
       32. An auxiliary unit for, and capable of being detachably mounted on, an electrostatic copying apparatus, said electrostatic copying apparatus comprising a copying paper conveying passage, a copying paper feed means for feeding a copying paper to the paper conveying passage and a copying paper feed passage whose downstream end is connected to the paper conveying passage, and said electrostatic copying apparatus being adapted to form a copied image on one surface of the copying paper while the paper introduced into the paper conveying passage from the paper feed means or the paper feed passage is conveyed through the paper conveying passage; wherein said auxiliary unit comprises an inlet portion adapted to be connected to the downstream end of the paper conveying passage, an outlet portion adapted to be connected to the upstream end of the paper feed passage, a copying paper stock means located adjacent to the outlet portion, a copying paper moving passage disposed between the inlet portion and the paper stock means, and a paper moving means for feeding the paper discharged from the paper conveying passage and introduced into the paper moving passage through the inlet portion into the paper stock means,   the paper stock means includes a copying paper supporting plate extending in the paper moving direction, a paper leading edge restricting plate disposed ahead of the paper supporting plate and projecting upwardly beyond the upper surface of the paper supporting plate, and a carry-in roller mechanism which acts on the copying paper fed from the paper moving passage and advancing along the upper surface of the paper supporting plate to further advance the paper and cause its leading edge to abut against the paper leading edge restricting plate,   at least the front edge portion of the paper supporting plate is opened at its top and constitutes said outlet portion, and a delivery roller provided in the electrostatic copying apparatus and adapted to be selectively rotated is positioned against the outlet portion,   at least the front portion of the paper supporting plate is constructed of a movable supporting plate piece mounted for free elevation from a receiving position spaced downwardly a predetermined distance from the delivery roller, and the paper stock means further includes an elastic biasing means for elastically biasing the movable supporting plate piece selectively upwardly, and   when the movable supporting plate piece is elastically biased upwardly by the elastic biasing means, the uppermost paper on the movable supporting plate piece is elastically pressed by the delivery roller, and thus when the delivery roller is rotated, the uppermost paper on the movable supporting plate piece is delivered to the paper feed passage through the outlet portion.   
     
     
       33. The auxiliary unit of claim 32 wherein the rear end portion of the movable supporting plate piece is mounted pivotably and can pivot upwardly from the receiving position. 
     
     
       34. The auxiliary unit of claim 32 wherein the elastic biasing means includes a push-up member having one end pivotably mounted, a movable member mounted such that it can be selectively held at a non-operating position and an operating position, a tension spring stretched between the push-up member and the movable member and an actuating means for selectively holding the movable member at the non-operating position and the operating position, and when the movable member is held at the non-operating position, the push-up member is positioned such that its free end portion is in contact with, or below, the under surface of the movable supporting plate piece at the receiving position, but when the movable member is held at the operating position, the push-up member is pivoted via the tension spring in a direction in which its free end portion is elevated, whereby the free end portion of the push-up member acts on the under surface of the movable supporting plate piece to elevate the movable supporting plate piece elastically. 
     
     
       35. The auxiliary unit of claim 34 wherein the movable member is mounted rotatably through the non-operating position and the operating position, the actuating means includes a spring clutch means for drivingly connecting a rotary driving source and the movable member selectively, and the spring clutch means is selectively controlled to a first linking-cancelled condition in which the linking of the rotating drive source and the movable member is cancelled while the movable member is at the non-operating position and a second linking-cancelled condition in which the linking of the rotating drive source and the movable member is cancelled while the movable member is at the operating position. 
     
     
       36. An auxiliary unit for, and capable of being detachably mounted on, an electrostatic copying apparatus, said electrostatic copying apparatus comprising a copying paper conveying passage, a copying paper feed means for feeding a copying paper to the paper conveying passage and a copying paper feed passage whose downstream end is connected to the paper conveying passage, and said electrostatic copying apparatus being adapted to form a copied image on one surface of the copying paper while the paper introduced into the paper conveying passage from the paper feed means or the paper feed passage is conveyed through the paper conveying passage; wherein said auxiliary unit comprises an inlet portion adapted to be connected to the downstream end of the paper conveying passage, an outlet portion adapted to be connected to the upstream end of the paper feed passage, a copying paper stock means located adjacent to the outlet portion, a copying paper moving passage disposed between the inlet portion and the paper stock means, and a paper moving means for feeding the paper dischargedfrom the paper conveying passage and introduced into the paper moving passage through the inlet portion into the paper stock means,   the paper stock means includes a copying paper supporting plate extending in the paper moving direction, a paper leading edge restricting plate disposed in ahead of the paper supporting plate and projecting upwardly beyond the upper surface of the paper supporting plate, a one paper side edge restricting plate disposed on one side of the paper supporting plate and projecting upwardly beyond the upper surface of the paper supporting plate, a carry-in roller mechanism which acts on the copying paper fed from the paper moving passage and advancing along the upper surface of the paper supporting plate to further advance the paper and cause its leading edge to abut against the paper leading edge restricting plate, and a widthwise moving mechanism for moving the copying paper widthwise toward the paper one side edge restricting plate and causing one side edge of the paper to abut substantially against the one paper side edge restricting plate,   the widthwise moving mechanism includes an opening formed on the paper supporting plate, a movable restricting plate mounted for free pivoting between an operating position at which it projects upwardly through the opening and a non-operating position at which it recedes outwardly in the widthwise direction from the operating position, and an actuating means for selectively moving the movable restricting plate to the operating position and the non-operating position, and when the movable restricting plate is moved from the non-operating position to the operating position, the movable restricting plate acts on the other side edge of the paper to move the paper widthwise toward the one paper side edge restricting plate, and   the copying paper fed into the paper stock means is again introduced into the paper conveying passage through the outlet portion and the paper feed passage.   
     
     
       37. The auxiliary unit of claim 36 wherein the carry-in roller mechanism includes a carry-in roller biased downwardly and mounted for free vertical movement between the lowermost position at which it abuts against the upper surface of the paper supporting plate and the uppermost position at which it is spaced a predetermined distance from the upper surface of the paper supporting plate and an elevating means adapted to be selectively energized to elevate the carry-in roller to the uppermost position, and   when the copying paper is fed into the paper stock means from the paper moving passage, the movable restricting plate is held at the non-operating position and the elevating means in the deenergized state and the paper fed into the paper stock means advances to a position beneath the carry-in roller along the upper surface of the paper supporting plate and then by the delivering action of the carry-in roller, further advances and abuts at its leading edge against the paper leading edge restricting plate whereby the advancing of the paper is hampered, and thereafter the elevating means is energized to elevate the carry-in roller to the uppermost position and keep it away from the paper, and the movable restricting plate is moved to the non-operating position.   
     
     
       38. The auxiliary unit of claim 36 wherein the actuating means of the widthwise moving mechanism is constructed of an electromagnetic solenoid; and when the magnetic solenoid is energized, the movable restricting plate is moved to the operating position from the non-operating position, and when the electromagnetic solenoid is deenergized, the movable restricting plate is elastically moved to the non-operating position from the operating position. 
     
     
       39. The auxiliary unit of claim 36 wherein the paper stock means includes a plurality of widthwise moving mechanism disposed at different positions in the widthwise direction,   the movable restricting plates of at least those widthwise moving mechanisms other than one disposed outermost in the widthwise direction do not project beyond the upper surface of the paper supporting plate when held at the non-operating position, and   either one of the widthwise moving mechanisms is actuated according to the width of the paper fed into the paper stock means.   
     
     
       40. A combination of an electrostatic copying apparatus comprising a copying paper conveying passage, a copying paper feed means for feeding a copying paper to the paper conveying passage and a copying paper feed passage whose downstream end is connected to the paper conveying passage and being adapted to form a copied image on one surface of the copying paper while the paper introduced into the paper conveying passage from the paper feed means or the paper feed passage is conveyed through the paper conveying passage, with an auxiliary unit detachably mounted on the electrostatic copying apparatus and comprising a copying paper moving passage whose upstream end is selectively connected to the downstream end of the paper conveying passage of the copying apparatus and a paper stock means whose upstream end is connected to the downstream end of the paper moving passage and whose downstream end is connected to the upstream end of the paper feed passage of the copying apparatus, wherein the copying paper introduced into the paper conveying passage from the paper feed means of the copying apparatus and conveyed through the paper conveying passage is selectively introduced into the paper moving passage of the auxiliary unit, then fed into the paper stock means of the auxiliary unit, and thereafter introduced into the paper conveying passage of the copying apparatus from the paper stock means of the auxiliary unit through the paper feed passage of the copying apparatus; characterized in that the electrostatic copying apparatus includes a first copying paper detecting means for detecting paper in the paper feed means, a second copying paper detecting means for detecting paper fed into the paper stock means of the auxiliary unit, a required number setting means, a copy number counting means and an operation control means,   when the first paper detecting means detects paper, the operation control means establishes a first copying paper feed mode in which the paper is introduced into the paper conveying passage from the paper feed means prior to a second copying paper feed mode in which the paper is introduced into the paper conveying passage from the paper stock means of the auxiliary unit via the paper moving passage,   the copy number counting means counts up according to the performance of the copying operation of the electrostatic copying apparatus and is reset after the counted value of the counting means became equal to a preset value in the required copy number setting means, and   the operation control means establishes the second paper feed mode in place of the first paper feed mode when the counted value of the copy number counting means becomes equal to the preset value in the required copy number setting means in the first paper feed mode and the second paper detecting means detects paper.   
     
     
       41. The combination of claim 40 wherein the electrostatic copying apparatus further includes a copying operation start switch means, and   the operation control means starts the copying operation of the electrostatic copying apparatus by the closing of the copying operation start switch means, and stops the copying operation when the counted value of the copy number counting means becomes equal to the preset value in the required number setting means.   
     
     
       42. The combination of claim 40, wherein the electrostatic copying apparatus further includes a third copying paper detecting means for detecting paper passing through the downstream end portion of the paper conveying passage, and   the copy number counting means counts up on the basis of the detection of paper by the third paper detecting means.   
     
     
       43. The combination of claim 40 wherein the combination further includes a copying paper cassette which can be detachably loaded into the electrostatic copying apparatus in place of the auxiliary unit,   the second paper detecting means can also detect paper in the paper cassette,   the electrostatic copying apparatus further includes a time measuring means and a discriminating means adapted to be set in either a normal condition or a condition allowing the second paper feed mode,   the time measuring means starts to measure time based on the detection of the first paper by the first paper detecting means in the first paper feed mode and finishes time measuring after the lapse of a predetermined period of time corresponding to the time required from the start of time measuring until the paper is fed into the paper stock means of the auxiliary unit when the auxiliary unit is loaded in the electrostatic copying apparatus,   the discriminating means changes from the normal condition to the second paper feed mode allowing condition only when the second paper detecting means detects paper after the finishing of time measuring by the time measuring means although before the time measuring means finishes time measuring the second paper detecting means does not detect paper, and   the operation control means establishes the second paper feed mode only when the discriminating means is in the condition allowing the second paper feed mode.   
     
     
       44. The combination of claim 43 wherein the operation control means determines after the finishing of time measuring by the time measuring means whether or not the second paper detecting means detects paper, and thereafter resets the time measuring means. 
     
     
       45. The combination of claim 44 wherein the operation control means returns the condition of the discriminating means to the normal condition when in the second paper feed mode established, the second paper detecting means does not detect paper in spite of the fact that the counted value of the copy number counting means is smaller than the preset value of the required copy number setting means. 
     
     
       46. The combination of claim 43 wherein when the second paper detecting means detects paper before the start of the copying operation, the operation control means establishes a third copying paper feed mode in which the paper is introduced into the paper conveying passage from the paper cassette through the paper moving passage prior to the first and second paper feed mode. 
     
     
       47. The combination of claim 40 wherein when the second paper detecting means does not detect paper in the second paper feed mode established in spite of the counted value of the copy number counting means being smaller than the preset value of the required copy number setting means, the operation control means changes the preset value of the required copy number setting means to a value obtained by subtracting the counted value of the copy number counting means from the preset value of the required copy number means, and establishes the first paper feed mode in place of the second paper feed mode.